A cool-headed former craftsman has been whipping up business using the expertise he forged in the Army.
Having served out a six-year career with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Barry Swan (pictured) is now using his skills to help ice-cream kingpin Mackie’s of Scotland modernise its manufacturing tech.
And the ex-corporal – who has also worked as a civvy contractor in Afghanistan and for several food and drink businesses – is delighted with the new challenge.
The 48-year-old is the company’s engineering chief, having worked on radar for the Rapier air defence system during his service from 1994 to 2001.
“There is a lot going on at the firm,” he told Soldier.
“I’ve already been in the salmon, shortbread and whisky industries, the very triumvirate of Scottishness, so to speak, and I’m now adding ice cream to the list.”
Swan’s remit includes overhauling different areas such as refrigeration, moulding and various production processes in order to bolster efficiencies and green credentials.
A veteran of a deployment to Northern Ireland, he continued: “I’m really enjoying the new job so far.
“I owe a lot to the Army – you gain so much from the training on offer, particularly for industry, and you have a good route into civvy street.”
Already using the likes of solar and wind technologies, Mackie’s makes ice cream from fresh milk and cream drawn from its own dairy farm in Aberdeenshire. The company is currently expanding and investing heavily in its infrastructure.
Managing director Stuart Common said: “With Barry at the helm of our engineering team, we are well placed to deliver on our growth ambitions.”
